Auckland Entertainment

  1. Academy Cinema

    Up for a bit of art-house escapism? The boutique Academy screens a steady diet of foreign and independent films that may never have a mainstream cinema release. It's also the venue for the likes of the World Cinema Showcase and Human Rights film festivals.

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  2. Aotea Centre

    The Aotea Centre is the main venue for the classics: expect to hear the well-fed voices of the NZ Opera company (www.nzopera.com) and to see the pointy toes of the Royal New Zealand Ballet (www.nzballet.or.nz).

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  3. Civic

    Millions have been spent restoring the Civic Theatre. It has a romantic, Eastern-style interior featuring a midnight-blue, star-studded ceiling in the main theatre and gold lions with blazing red eyes crouched in alcoves. Prior to its renovation it was a movie theatre; now the Civic features popular musicals like Les Miserables or Phantom of the Opera .

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  4. Lido

    Auckland's most adored cinema, Lido's well-padded seats in its two licensed theatres make it the people's choice for seeing a flick. Couples should book the back row with removable armrests. Lido screens art-house, foreign and the odd Hollywood film.

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  5. Rialto Cinemas

    It's got drama, horror, comedy and kids' movies. This large independent chain has cinemas across the country. This one is licensed, so you can really make a night of going to the movies.

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  7. Silo Theatre

    With an annual programme that presents current plays, past plays, locally devised theatre and overseas theatre, it's not easy to pin down the Silo. Past plays have included Toa Fraser's No 2, plus those from playwrights of the ilk of Neil La Bute (US), Dylan Thomas (Wales) and Louis Nowra (Australia).

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